Meal serving mat



Oct. 4, 1932. UHALT 1,881,416

MEAL SERVING MAT Filed Sept. 22, 1930 11 u, a I /I I l fi INVENTORWITNESSES 23 MLeWZ7df ATTORNEY Patented Get. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES MARYANN LEVY 11mm", or CLEVELANDQ'OHIO MEAL SERVING MAT Application filedSeptember 22, 1980. Serial No. 483,626.

This invention relates to dishes, and more particularly to what areknown as mat dishes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide table chinaware forserving meals which are fixedly mounted on rigid sectional mats adaptedfor use on dining tables and in other places by means of which a tablemay be set and the meals served with a minimum expenditure of labor andtime.

Another object is to so construct such mats that they may be used forserving a smaller or larger number of persons at will, which may bequickly removed and washed, and which may be used in various places.

In carrying out these objects, the invention 'is susceptible of a widerange of modification without departing fro-m the spirt or sacrificingany of the advantages of the claimed invention; there being shown in thedrawing for illustrative purposes a preferred and practical form, inwhich:

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a mat constructed in accordance withthis invention;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of a table equipped with this improvement;

Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal section of one of the mats; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing a slightly modified form.

In the embodiment illustrated a table 1 is shown which may be of anyconfiguration, preferably rectangular, and on which is designed to bemounted the mat dishes constituting this invention.

In Figures 1 and 2 is shown a mat composed of three sections, two endsections 11 and 12 with an intermediate section 13 arranged betweenthem.

Each end section has fixedly secured there- 1 to suit-able dishes forserving a meal to three persons and each end section being exactly alikeone only will be described in detail. This section has mounted thereonthree serving plates 14., 15 and 16, which are positioned one at theside of the mat which when in use is arranged at the end of the table.The plates 14 and 16', which are mounted on the ends of the mat section12, will be located, when the mat is in use, at the sides of the tablewhen the-structure as herein shown is employed. Fixedly secured to themat along the side opposite to that on whichthe plate 15 is mount ed area plurality of bowls 17 three being herein shown and which are designedas containers for the food. Bread and butter plates 18 are fixed to themat 12, at each plate, while a saucer 19 is also located at the right ofeach serving plate. I

A platter is fixed to the center of the section 12 and is designed forholding meat or other viands to be served. I

The three sections shown in Figurel are preferably made about %-inch inthickness of any suitable material which is light yet durable and theyare so constructed or shaped as to fit the dining room table inconnection with which they are tobe used. The ordinary table is providedwith leaves, shown at 21 in Figure 2, for lengthening the table and theintermediate mat section 12 is designed to conform to the shape of atable leaf so that it may be inserted in connection with such leaves toprovide for greater seating capacity. Each of these intermediate leafsections 13 is designed to accommodate two persons, one at each end, andis equipped with two serving plates 14 arranged one at one end of theleaf or section and one at the otherand in connection with which isprovided abread and butter plate 18Fand a saucer 19*.

In Figure 3 the dishes are shown secured to the mat 12 by a connector 22which fixedly secures the dish to the mat as shown clearly in Figure 3.These dishes may be removably secured on the mat if desired but arepreferably permanently secured thereto, and as shown in Figure 4 theyare made integral therewith, as shown at 23. I V

By attaching permanently the chinaware or dishes to the mat sections andby so arranging such dishes all the foods on the table are locatedwithin the reach of each diner and thus eliminates-the passing of platesor food containers. These dishes as will be seen are so mounted on themat sections that their entire body portions extend above the surface ofthe mat to present the appearance of a table set with ordinary movabledishes. .100

The only movable pieces on the table are the silverware, glasses andcups, and these removable elements should be picked up after the mealand carried to a suitable place for cleansing. The rigid mats having thechina- Ware or dishes fixed to them are, after the meal is over, rackedup Withall left overs on the dishes and are subjected preferabl to aspraying washing operation. 7

When the table is to be set for three persons or less, only one sectionsuch as that shown at 11 or 12 is used and the other lea-li 1 sections13 may be added when necessary. It is to be understoodthat the sectionswith the dishes fixed thereto before being placed on the tablearesupplied with food in the kitchen and then the entire mat section istaken in and placed on the dining room table and by; the addition of thesilver, water glasses and cups the table is readily set for the diners..7

It will thus be seen that all food is placed on thetable and the tableset in one operation and the food is distributed Within easy reach ofthe diners, thereby eliminating the passing of dishes.

It is also to be understood that the dishes may be fixed to the matseither permanently or temporarily. Either mounting provides for thedishes being held in their relative positions regardless of the positionof the surface on which they are mounted.

Without further description it'is thought 1 that the features andadvantages of the in vention Will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and it will, of course, be

understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or its scope as claimed.

I claim: Y I

1.- A serving mat for dining tables and the like comprising a rigid basehaving a plurality of serving plates and food containers permanentlysecured thereto with their entire body portions extending above thesurface of the mat and held in their relative positions regardless ofthe position of the base presenting the appearance of a table set withordinary dishes.

2. A serving mat for dining tables comprising a plurality of sections tobe arranged in sequence, and each having fixedly and permanentlyattached at its upper face a plurality of dishes for containingand'serving food.

3. A serving mat for dining tables and the like, comprising a-basehaving a' continuous flat surface and integral portions of said baseprojecting upwardly from said flat surface to constitute dishespermanently set in place on a table. Q

MARY ANN LEVY UHALT.

